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Does Marajuana Cause Seizures?
Question: Hi, My husband had a stroke(bleeder) 11years ago. He smokes marijuana. he has had 3 seizures in the 11 yrs. all were caused from a urinary tract infection. Recenctly he had another seizure and drs. are saying it is from smoking marajuiana.it was 2 weeks prior of smoking. I say they are missing something.Cat scan,blood work & urine all came back normal in the ER. EEG came back find.when they took him from the bed to sit up in a chair his heart rate went up to 150 beats per minute.what should i do? no doctor has even talked to me. I'm bringing home from rehab friday. thanks
Brief Answer:
seizures and postural hypertension.
Detailed Answer:
hello XXXX
thanx a lot for giving such a detailed and nice history.
sorry to hear that your husband had history of stroke.
your husband had seizure due to following reasons
1. due to gliosis of stroke injured foci, which is the main reason of seizures. as post stroke patient have seizure because of gliosis (some cells come to heal the area) that is the main reason of seizures in husband.it is normal process of body to heal the brain injury after a stroke. it can be diagnosed by brain MRI only. so go for MRI to get the correct reason of seizures. treatment of gliosis is not defined as it is normal body process. patient has to continue anti seizures medicines only.
2. marijuana smoking can cause seizures but chances are not much here. but better to quite marijuana smoking as it causes high blood pressure, which results in stroke. it can also cause brain damage.
reason of increases heart rate.
he is having postural hypotension, as he is taking blood pressure medicine. his bp reduces whenever he sit up. result in increase heart rate.
to reduce the problem avoid sudden standing and sit up from the bed.
use pillows in back to support while sitting. try to sit slowly and walk after 5 minutes resting on the bed.
little to worry about increased heart rate. it will not harm his health. it is just protecting function of the body for decreases blood pressure.
now management for seizures
1 keppra( levitracetam) good drug and no need to stop it. it will help him to live seizure free life.
2 stop the merijuana as it causes the decrease potency of the drug keppra, reduces its effect and increases the chances of seizure.
3. physiotherapy and exercises as suggested by doctors to get early recovery.
4. reduce salt intake, and increase the fiber rich diet.
do not worry above measures will help a lot and will make his life smooth long and seizure free.
at present situation rehab is best and for further life course continue the same medicine.
'Hope I have answered your question. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help".
i wish you and your husband good health.
Regards
Dr awadhesh
MBBS MD
seizures and postural hypertension.
Detailed Answer:
hello XXXX
thanx a lot for giving such a detailed and nice history.
sorry to hear that your husband had history of stroke.
your husband had seizure due to following reasons
1. due to gliosis of stroke injured foci, which is the main reason of seizures. as post stroke patient have seizure because of gliosis (some cells come to heal the area) that is the main reason of seizures in husband.it is normal process of body to heal the brain injury after a stroke. it can be diagnosed by brain MRI only. so go for MRI to get the correct reason of seizures. treatment of gliosis is not defined as it is normal body process. patient has to continue anti seizures medicines only.
2. marijuana smoking can cause seizures but chances are not much here. but better to quite marijuana smoking as it causes high blood pressure, which results in stroke. it can also cause brain damage.
reason of increases heart rate.
he is having postural hypotension, as he is taking blood pressure medicine. his bp reduces whenever he sit up. result in increase heart rate.
to reduce the problem avoid sudden standing and sit up from the bed.
use pillows in back to support while sitting. try to sit slowly and walk after 5 minutes resting on the bed.
little to worry about increased heart rate. it will not harm his health. it is just protecting function of the body for decreases blood pressure.
now management for seizures
1 keppra( levitracetam) good drug and no need to stop it. it will help him to live seizure free life.
2 stop the merijuana as it causes the decrease potency of the drug keppra, reduces its effect and increases the chances of seizure.
3. physiotherapy and exercises as suggested by doctors to get early recovery.
4. reduce salt intake, and increase the fiber rich diet.
do not worry above measures will help a lot and will make his life smooth long and seizure free.
at present situation rehab is best and for further life course continue the same medicine.
'Hope I have answered your question. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help".
i wish you and your husband good health.
Regards
Dr awadhesh
MBBS MD
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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